Hellenic Seaways

Hellenic Seaways was created in 2005 following the consolidation of Minoan Flying Dolphins and its subsidiaries Hellas Flying Dolphins, Hellas Ferries, Saronikos Ferries, and Sporades Ferries.

It is the biggest Greek shipping Company, which operates 21 vessels, 9 conventional, and 12 high-speed, servicing more than 35 ports in the Cyclades, North East Aegean, South East Aegean, Crete, Argosaronikos, and Sporades.[4]

In August 2009, Hellenic Seaways purchased the single-ship, budget cruise line easyCruise from founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou.[5]

In January 2011, Minoan Lines (Heraklion) cancelled the sale of its 33.35% stake in Hellenic Seaways to ANEK and tried to find a new buyer for it.[6]

In June 2018, Minoan Lines (Heraklion) sold its 48.53% stake in Hellenic Seaways to Attica Group for €78.5 million.[7]

Hellenic Seaways operate a large fleet of high-speed craft[8][9] and conventional ferries.[10]

Conventional ferries

Ship	Flag	Built	Gross tonnage	Length	Width	Passengers	Cars	Knots	Notes
Artemis		1997	1,612 GT	89.8 m	14 m	1,250	74	18
Express Skiathos		1996	1,996 GT	77.9 m	22 m	1,390	184	19
Nissos Rodos		1987	29,733 GT	192.5 m	27 m	2,210	748	22
Nissos Samos		1988	30,435 GT	192.9 m	29.4 m	2,202	656	20.5
Ariadne		1996	30,882 GT	196 m	27 m	2,045	639	27.5

Highspeed series

Ship	Flag	Built	Gross tonnage	Length	Width	Passengers	Cars	Knots	Notes
Highspeed 4		2000	6,274 GT	92 m	24 m	1,004	188	40.5
Hellenic Highspeed		1997	4,463 GT	100 m	17 m	724	165	35	Serves the line Algeciras–Tanger Med

AERO Highspeed series

Ship	Flag	Built	Gross tonnage	Length	Width	Passengers	Knots	Notes
AERO 1 Highspeed		2022	347 GT	36 m	9.7 m	150	32.2
AERO 2 Highspeed		2022	347 GT	36 m	9.7 m	150	32.2
AERO 3 Highspeed		2022	347 GT	36 m	9.7 m	150	32.2

Flyingcat series

Ship	Flag	Built	Gross tonnage	Length	Width	Passengers	Cars	Knots	Notes
Flyingcat 3		1998	613 GT	47.7 m	11.8 m	360	-	40	Perama Shipyard
Flyingcat 4		1999	794 GT	55.1 m	13 m	440	-	40	Piraeus–Saronic
Flyingcat 5		1996	496 GT	40 m	10 m	337	-	30	Piraeus–Saronic
Flyingcat 6		1997	493 GT	40 m	10.1 m	337	-	30	Piraeus–Saronic

Flying Dolphin series

Ship	Flag	Built	Gross tonnage	Length	Width	Passengers	Knots	Notes
Flying Dolphin XVII		1984	162 GT	32 m	6 m	128	30
Flying Dolphin XIX		1983	161 GT	35 m	6 m	128	40
Flying Dolphin XXIX		1993	161 GT	35 m	6 m	128	40

[11]

Cyclades

• Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Koufonisi–Amorgos (Highspeed 4)
• Rafina–Tinos–Mykonos–Naxos (Flyingcat 3)
• Lavrio–Kea–Kythnos–Andros–Tinos–Syros–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Sikinos–Folegandros–Kimolos–Milos–Kimolos–Sifnos–Serifos (Artemis)

North Aegean & Dodecanese

• Piraeus–Chios–Mytilene (Nissos Samos & Nissos Rodos)
• Piraeus–Santorini–Vathy–Kos–Symi–Rhodes (Ariadne)

Argosaronikos

• Piraeus–Aegina–Agistri (Flying Dolphin XIX, Aero 1, Aero 2, & Aero 3)
• Piraeus–Poros–Hydra–Ermioni–Spetses–Porto Heli (Flyingcat 4, Flyingcat 5, Flyingcat 6, Aero 1, Aero 2, & Aero 3)

Sporades

• Volos–Skiathos–Glossa–Skopelos–Alonissos (Express Skiathos)

Hellenic Seaways covered itineraries to Chania in Crete island in the summer periods from 2004–2006 with the high-speed vessel Highspeed 4 in 4 hours and 30 minutes, and in summer 2007 with the passenger ferry Ariadne. The company also launched routes from Piraeus to Rethymno port, in Crete with Highspeed 5 in summer 2008. In the summer season of 2010, Hellenic Seaways launched for the first time itineraries from Piraeus to Dodecanese islands, Kos and Rhodes, (through Paros) with the passenger ferry Nissos Rodos, but after an unsuccessful period they were cancelled.

Until early summer 2018, Hellenic Seaways sailed from Heraklion in Crete to Mykonos with calls at the ports of Santorini, Ios and Paros with Highspeed 7. Then, Hellenic Seaways withdrew from the route, due to Highspeed 7 being transferred to Minoan Lines as part of the deal for the sale of Minoan's stake in Hellenic Seaways to Attica Group. The vessel, however, remained in the route under the flag of its new owner and the new name Santorini Palace.

In late 2013, Hellenic Seaways formed a joint venture with Saronic Gulf rivals Nova Ferries and 2way Ferries. Created to offer better schedules and better prices for the consumers, the joint venture marketed as Saronic Ferries, using four vessels and covering a total of four destinations.[12][13] After selling the ferries Posidon Hellas and Apollon Hellas to 2way Ferries in 2015 and 2016 respectively, Hellenic Seaways left the joint venture.

In 2007, Hellenic Seaways was awarded by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards as "The Best Passenger Line of the Year 2007", and their then new-building vessel, Nissos Chios, was awarded with the prize of "The Best Ship of the Year 2007".[14] Her sister ship, the Nissos Mykonos, had also won the same award in 2006. In 2014, Hellenic Seaways was again awarded by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards as "The Best Passenger Line of the Year 2014".[15]

The following list includes former vessels of the current company and of predecessors Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) and its subsidiaries.

• Hellenic Seaways
• Hellenic Seaways' ships videos
• Greece island hopping